Springfield Library now offering digital lending service

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield City Library patrons have a new digital service at their disposal, giving them access to scores more audio books, movies and music. The library is now offering “Hoopla Digital,” a service that allows Springfield library card holders to enjoy on-demand content from their personal computers, smartphones, tablets and Apple TV without waiting to borrow the content.

The service is part of the Springfield Library’s mission to provide patrons with more requested services.

“There’s some community demand for streaming media,” said Ann Keefe, manager of Technical Services for the Springfield City Library. “If they’re using it on their personal computer, they can stream the music or movies or audio books, but they can also temporary download it onto smartphones and tablets.”

Hoopla Digital works on most Apple and Android devices, but does not work on some devices, such as the Kindle Fire.

Keefe said in addition to offering more types of materials to loan, there is one major difference that makes Hoopla Digital more user-friendly.

“With (other digital library lending services), the model is one copy, one loan,” she said. “So if 50 people are interested in the same thing at the same time, there’s a long waiting list. With this, there’s no waiting list. Everyone can access it at the same time.”

Movies and television shows are lent for three days. On a Mac or personal computer, the user can stream movies or TV shows as many times as they want in that time period. To use a tablet device, users must install a free application on their device in order to view the content.

Keefe said the movies and television shows currently offered aren’t the latest available.

“They tend to be older things – about two years old,” she said. “You aren’t going to see the latest ‘Game of Thrones.’ But people that are interested in niche things are finding some unique things that they can pick up.”

When it comes to music, Hoopla Digital does not offer anything from the Sony catalog, but other popular music is available, even on the day it comes out.

“(New music) usually comes out on Tuesdays,” Keefe said. “If 50 people are interested in it, they can all get it.”

Music is loaned for seven days. Audio books are available for 21 days. Hoopla Digital also offers an automatic return feature, which eliminates overdue fees.

And if a patron isn’t done with the item after the loan period is up?

“You can’t technically renew them at the end, but since there’s no waiting list, you can go in and check them out again,” Keefe said.

There are lending limits, however. Each patron is allowed to borrow up to eight items per month through Hoopla Digital.

Keefe said the service is simple to use.

“It’s a very easy-to-use browsing page,” she said. “It shows you the top titles, the newly added titles, or you can do specific searches.”

Keefe said the library staff is sure patrons will be happy with the new service.

“It’s to keep up with the digital shift,” she said. “At this point, we’re certainly not cutting back on our physical media – our books and CDs. This is just another service.”

In order for patrons to use Hoopla Digital, they must have a valid Springfield City Library card in good standing, as well as a valid email address.

For more information on Hoopla Digital, visit www.springfieldlibrary.org or stop by the library at 220 State Street, Springfield.